The path to industrial growth is environmental sustainability. Not only can it help the business grow, but it might also positively impact the entire economy in the long run. One of the industries where sustainability has become imperative is the cannabis sector. Many natural resources are being used to satisfy the high need for sustainable quality-driven cannabis goods as the industry continues to grow exponentially. It is necessary to reduce the usage of natural resources to build a more sustainable and efficient cannabis industry.
Are you wondering how the cannabis industry can become more sustainable? Which eco-friendly practices are the manufacturers adopting? The legalization of weed has led many enthusiasts to scratch their heads over these questions. Read further to know more about ways to make the cannabis market more environment-friendly.
How to make the cannabis industry more sustainable?
Given global warming and the climate crisis that the earth is facing, it is becoming imperative for every industry globally to take action and adopt sustainability initiatives. This applies to the cannabis sector as well. Here are six different ways to make the industry more environmentally friendly and sustainable:
1. Using sustainable transportation:
Transportation relies on fossil energy and other commodities and poses a challenge to the long-term viability of cannabis businesses. Finding appropriate, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable methods to transport cannabis can help reduce the environmental challenge many cannabis companies face.
One of the many approaches to make the cannabis sector more competitive is to focus on logistics. Energy-efficient automobiles that use fewer carbon fuels or electricity may contribute to reducing transportation’s environmental effects. Providing pharmacies with locally cultivated cannabis would also help to reduce the environmental impact.
A majority of cannabis companies also are now offering quick delivery of their products. You can get any product such as zong bong at cheap rates within a short span of their time through the sustainable logistics process.
2. Resorting to regenerative farming:
Regenerative agriculture is a systematic solution to cultivating all types of crops, especially cannabis. To create a more promising agricultural environment, many people adopt this method that boosts sustainability, nurtures ecosystems, strengthens watersheds, and enhances ecological services.
In the case of cannabis, regenerative breeding entails seed-to-seed planting, in which the grower is responsible for the whole life cycle of the crop. Regenerative cultivation benefits cannabis in multiple ways: it not only boosts the farm’s biodiversity but also reduces the need for possibly dangerous substances like manure and pesticides.
3. Conserving water usage:
Unlike other plants, cannabis requires a massive quantity of water to grow. One plant uses up to six gallons of water a day. Cannabis farmers are looking for innovative ways to reduce their water consumption and save more water over time. Several manufacturers are also becoming imaginative and introducing new approaches such as reusing wastewater after one cycle of farm irrigation.
Closed-circuit desalination (CCD) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies can recycle 75 percent to 97 percent of the water consumed in the growth process, enabling recycling and ensuring safe water can be used again.
4. Reducing energy consumption:
Along with water, cannabis plants also require a lot of energy. According to a survey, the average energy use of legal cannabis production in the United States is expected to be 1.1 million megawatt-hours (MWh), which is enough to fuel 92,500 households for a year.
Most of the electricity is utilized by in-house heating bulbs and lamps. Indoor grow lights are very powerful but also use a lot of energy. LED lighting is a perfect alternative for these heavy-duty lamps because it emits little heat, which means it uses less energy and needs less upkeep. Cannabis grown with LED technology has a more evenly distributed vaporization intensity, requiring less fertilizer. Most importantly, LED lights last longer and use 60-70 percent less energy than traditional indoor farming lights. To summarize, a marginally higher expenditure will result in a significant return – for both you and the environment.
5. Developing a better waste management system:
After the hemp plant is all utilized and cleared, there is always some residue left. In particular, the United States alone produces over 150 million tons of cannabis waste per year. Plant roots, leaves, cannabis wrapping products, and other items fall under this category. Companies such as GAIACA Waste Revitalization are trying to find a workaround by fertilizing cannabis plant residue directly.
Cannabis businesses must use better waste management processes, such as Compliant Weed Recycling Programs, to encourage a more healthy sector overall.
6. Using hemp residue in construction:
Hempcrete is a concrete-like substance created from the harvested cannabis crops. Rather than throwing away discarded cannabis plants, they may be utilized to make a super-durable architecture substance that might be the future of environmentally friendly constructions. Hempcrete is also “carbon negative,” which eliminates more carbon from the environment than it creates.
Some cannabis producers and manufacturers have started to move to more ecologically friendly techniques and lead by example.
In conclusion
The entire world is moving toward sustainability to protect the environment from further damage. To make a significant impact in the cannabis sector, the companies can adopt these six ways to increase sustainability. It will yield far better results than traditional exhaustive farming. As more and more people resort to sustainable agriculture, the cannabis industry will surely be greener in the future.
